In that 2007 figure there are eight people earning over $300,000.

It makes one tremble when looking at these figures and question how much these statistics will increase in all probability, and with out a doubt, more staff and logically more management.

To add to these figures one must not overlook the $31 million deficit being forecast over the next two years. Is it not incredible what people will do with taxpayer money?

To me it is obvious common sense did not exist when making these decisions along with lack of public input to follow up these decisions, a very familiar omission in the region and in most municipalities.

Who were these experts that felt the far side of St. Catharines was the best location for the new hospital when the consensus taken from the citizens the location should have been at the intersection of Highways 20 and 406, a site dead centre in the Niagara Region serviced by key arteries that required no back roads and less concern about winter conditions?

I am not going to go into all of the comments made by professionals and so-called experts but I will settle on one attention-grabbing point, that being our Welland regional councilor's remarks made to the media.

My analysis of their comments is they are, all three, delighted with all of the intended moves and changes as the moves will be good for the city, but nowhere did I come across any of them, Forster, Marshall, and Goulborne, making a solitary observation about the projected location. Consequently I must presume all three agree with the locality. Their constituents in most cases are very vocal about the location of this hospital with the question as to why the location was not located at highways 406 and 20 and feel these same regional councillors should be reacting in a comparable manner as Bob Saraccino is in Port Colborne by speaking up on our behalf and not on their behalf.

D.G. Smith

Welland